Rat-trap



Patented Oct. 6, 1885,

RAT TRAP.

H. MGGILLIS.

(No Model.)

NrTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY MCGILLIS, OF DARLO'I, GEORGIA.

RAT-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part. of Letters Patent No. 327,704, dated October6, 1885. Application filed March 2, 1885. Serial No. 157,535. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY MCGILLIs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Darlot, in the county of Liberty and State of Georgia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Eat-Traps, of which thefollowing is a specification,reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inrat-taps; and it has for its object to provide a trap which shall ratherform a place of attraction and temporary abode for rats than a means ofimmediate destruction, and which can be removed from time to time aftera number of rats have gathered therein,the trap being provided with acut-off,whcreby they will be prevented from escape during the time ofremoving the trap and killing the rats.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andon which similar letters of reference indicate the same or correspondingfeatures, Figure l represents a perspective view of my improved trap;Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the passagesleading to the compartments, and Fig. 3 a transverse sectional view ofthe trap.

The letter A designates the box or receptacle, constructed preferably ofwood and de signed to be of varying sizes-say, from two to ivc feet.rllhis receptacle may be divided into two or more compartments bypartitions, as at- B, comm u ni cation between the respectivecompartments being established by an opening or doorway in thepartitions.

The interior of the receptacle may, if found desirable, be lined withsheet-iron or tin, or something of a nature through which rats eannotwell gnaw. It is further provided with any suitable bedding or softmaterial which will afford an attractive resting-place for the rats andadd inducement to their making the compartment a place of abode. Baitmay from time to time, if found desirable, be placed in the receptacle.

The upper portion of the receptacle is provided with a removable glassand wooden cover, whereby on the removal of the wooden cover the ratsmay be seen through the glass, in order to ascertain how many are withinthe same. The glass, however, may or may not extend over the whole ofthe upper surface.

To one side of the receptacle is attached one, two, or morepassage-ways, C, constructed preferably of boards, as represented in thedrawings. Near the inner end of these passages apertures D are cut inthe adjacent wall of the receptacle, so that the rats in passing fromthe passages may readily enter the receptacle proper.

In order to eut off communication between the passages and receptacle, Iprovide a slide, E, tted in the present instance between the receptacleand the passageways and across the doors D. This slide is normally heldup by fitting sufficiently tight in its ways,but may be removed.

The trap is located in a place where the rats are most likely to befound-say in a dark corner of a stable-loft or other similar sel eludedspot. After it has been there long enough for the rats to becomeaccustomed to it, and to have made it a place of abode, it will be found(as I have ascertained by experiment) that on approaching the trap theywill retreat to it as a place of refuge. The slide E is then let downacross the openings D and all eXit for the rats cut off. The trap isthen removed and the rats destroyed, an opening of sufficient size foronly one at a time to escape being provided, as at G.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a rat-trap, the combination, with a receptacle divided into two ormore compartments communicating with each other, and provided withbedding and an exitedoor, of one or more passages leading thereto andeommunicating therewith through openings in the wall of the receptacle,and a slide adapted to cut off said communication.

2. As a new article of manufacture, the herein-described rattrap,consisting, essentially, of the receptacle divided into two or morecompartments communicating with each other, and provided with bedding,an exitdoor, and removable covers, and one or more passages leading toand communicating with the receptacle through openings in the wall ofthe receptacle, and a sliding door to cnt off said communication.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature n presence of two witnesses.

HENRY MCGILLIS. lVitnesses:

FRANCIS J. DELK, JAMEs D. ZoRN.

